Neely v. Martin K. Eby Construction Co.

In Neely v. Martin K. Eby Construction Co., 386 U.S. 317, 325 (1967), a 7-2 U.S. Supreme Court acknowledged that courts of appeals should "be constantly alert" to "the trial judge's first-hand knowledge of witnesses, testimony, and issues" and that appellate courts should give due consideration to the first-instance decision maker's "'feel' for the overall case," but the court of appeals does have full authority to render the final decision.